Chapter 112: Your Majesty, Please Be Kind to Xiao Jingxuan
The emperor was like a walking encyclopedia of endless questions, chatting with Su Jingluo from dusk until the dead of night. Su Jingluo drank countless cups of tea, until her throat was parched and her voice hoarse. When the emperor asked again, Su Jingluo no longer wanted to answer; she collapsed onto the stone table, silent and exhausted.
“You must be tired as well. I’ve learned so much from you tonight; it’s been like a revelation. When do you have time for us to talk like this again?” Now that the emperor had emerged from the depths of his heartbreak, he was almost buzzing with energy.
“No, no, maybe another time, another time,” Su Jingluo shook her head repeatedly, her throat burning. The emperor was truly squeezing every bit of knowledge, thought, and insight from her, as if wringing water from a toad.
“There is one more matter. I’ve heard the Crown Prince and the Princess are both at Prince Jing’s residence. Could you assist by negotiating with Prince Jing to release them? I do not wish to resort to arms against him.” After extensive inquiry, the emperor knew the Crown Prince was indeed at Prince Jing’s estate, which was stirring quite a commotion. But now was not the time to tear the mask off; it seemed Prince Jing had already summoned his trusted men from the border.
“What? At Prince Jing’s residence?” Su Jingluo was stunned; she hadn’t expected Xiao Jingxuan to actually kidnap the imperial heirs and keep them there. Panic surged within her. Neither she nor the emperor had imagined that the Crown Prince would betray his own family by defecting with his sister.
“Your Majesty, I don’t think you ought to treat Xiao Jingxuan kindly.” Su Jingluo avoided addressing whether the Crown Prince would be returned and considered that her hospital project would surely require the emperor’s support. She did not wish for Xiao Jingxuan and the emperor to fall into irreparable disgrace. After all, one was the nominal husband, the other a crucial ally.
“How could I not treat him well? It is he who constantly opposes me, guards against me, and schemes relentlessly.” At the mention of the core conflict, the emperor’s anger flared. Although Xiao Jingxuan was the least favored among the brothers, he had become the greatest threat.
“This matter deserves a proper discussion. Is he your brother? Have you ever shown him any affection or care?” Su Jingluo asked. Mentioning Xiao Jingxuan seemed to revive her; she suddenly had more spirit.
The emperor was speechless. He thought back—never once in his life had he shown him kindness. There was no warmth in the royal family; from an early age, the path of the princes was dictated by their mother and the powers around them. All the princes were enemies—enemies bound by blood.
“No, you never had brotherly harmony. He was unloved from childhood. A child barely older than the Crown Prince, fighting for a place on the battlefield amid shattered limbs and corpses. The emperor holds the empire, but he has only known unease since youth. Every step forward was like walking on thin ice. He is like a startled lone wolf, ever vigilant against danger, baring his fangs to protect himself. All his sharp defenses are born of unfortunate necessity. Who doesn’t wish to be like the Crown Prince—innocent and carefree, seeing only friends around? To put it plainly, if you were kind, he would surely see you as a confidant, willing to sacrifice his life for you.” Su Jingluo spoke with such feeling that even she was moved, deeply sympathizing with Xiao Jingxuan.
“You…” The emperor was unwilling to admit it, but indeed, he had never shown Xiao Jingxuan a shred of kindness or trust. Su Jingluo’s words left him momentarily stumped.
“I will send you out of the palace,” the emperor finally said nothing further, rising to personally escort Su Jingluo back to Prince Jing’s residence. Perhaps, as Su Jingluo suggested, he could show even the slightest kindness. Even if brotherly harmony was impossible, at least they need not remain at such a tense, knife-edge standoff. And perhaps, along the way, he could retrieve the Crown Prince.